"We believe that a transformational ministry is one that not only brings about measurable change, but also serves as a model that can be adapted in different settings," said Antoinette "Toni" Daniels, director of Learning and Leadership at ECF. "We hope these wonderful, new Fellows will not only inspire, but guide others in their mission and ministry."

The new Fellows are engaged in ministries that will have important impact in their communities and beyond.

Millennium Development Goals
Hoping to help realize the enormous potential of working towards the Millennium Development Goals, Anderson, former associate rector at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, will work to equip people in the Diocese of Minnesota and beyond to implement global mission projects in their congregations.

"Focusing on the micro-level is the key to keeping a movement rooted, sustained, and faced toward the future," noted Anderson. "This fellowship will equip hands-on coaching, training and support for congregations."

Prison Ministry
A doctoral student in Ethics at Union Theological Seminary, New York City, Vesely-Flad is the founder and director of the Interfaith Coalition of Advocates for Reentry and Employment, and hopes to educate communities of faith about the criminal justice system, engage them in advocating for people with criminal convictions, and assist congregations in developing prison and reentry ministries.

"This fellowship will provide support to enable me to carry out the next stage of my work -- publishing and continuing to engage communities of faith in systemic criminal justice reform," said Vesely-Flad.

Women's Empowerment
Abuelas, Madres y Más (Grandmothers, Mothers and More), co-created by Velez-Rivera, is a lay ministry working with Latinas utilizing a popular storytelling tradition. This project will engage facilitators and participants in creating curricula that will help women learn to work in groups, provide theological foundations for their ministry, and become compañeras y mentoras (companions and mentors) to a multigenerational population of women.

"I love the work that God has given me," explained Velez-Rivera. "We are planting seeds of inclusion, openness and empowerment for all of God's children."

"Through our programs, products and services, ECF serves ministries of all sizes," said Donald V. Romanik, president of ECF. "We are especially committed to working with those that have fewer resources. Through the work of our Fellows we will be able to empower many Episcopalians for mission and ministry."

ECF will also continue to support their three 2005 Fellows through the next academic year: the Rev. Christopher E. Griffen, University of Chicago; Mark J. McInroy, Harvard Divinity School; and Regina L. Walton, Harvard Divinity School.

Further information about the Fellowship Partners Program is available here or by call 800-697-2858.